Patrick Middleton

What Actually Counts as Interdisciplinary Research? A data-driven look at which funders actually support knowledge integration

What counts as interdisciplinary research? And can we tell who is actually funding it, versus just talking about it? A data-driven deep-dive from me here: open.substack.com/pub/johnsonb...

RoRI’s Impact: What we’ve achieved - and where we’re going - Research on Research We’re pleased to launch RoRI’s Impact Report, a snapshot of everything we’ve achieved together with our partners over the past two years

As we gear up to welcome 830 colleagues from 65 countries to UCL for #Metascience2025, we’re delighted to publish RoRI’s impact report, outlining our projects & progress over the past 2.5 yrs. researchonresearch.org/roris-impact... Huge thanks to all our partners & team @rorinstitute.bsky.social

YouTube video by UK Research and Innovation How quantum physics is helping the London Underground find its way l UKRI Technology Missions Fund

Our Technology Missions Fund supports technologies with the potential to change our world for the better.

We headed to the London Underground to see how quantum sensing is helping keep track of trains where GPS can't reach 🚆

Amazing work from @imperialcollegeldn.bsky.social!

#LondonTechWeek

Reflections As her tenure as CEO comes to an end Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser reflects on her time at UKRI.

"Research and innovation are fundamentally endeavours of hope and empowerment. This is the North Star that has guided my time at UKRI."

Professor Dame Ottoline Leyser reflects on her proudest achievements in her time as UKRI CEO and the importance of systems-level thinking.

"Woke waste" and diversity of thought From time to time, a piece of publicly funded research gets accused of being a bad use of taxpayers’ money.

This may not be conducive to a quiet life, but I've written up some thoughts on the subject of "woke waste" in publicly funded research

open.substack.com/pub/magicsmo...

North Sea ship crash, and super spuds Plus, what's under the hood of an electric car battery...

Potatoes: boil them, mash them, make them anti-bruise 🥔

In the latest episode of the Naked Scientists podcast, we meet researchers at B-Hive Innovations who are giving the lowly spud a genetic makeover in a bid to reduce food waste and improve their resilience to climate change.

A text box with the words: R&D Mission Programme: Mission Challenge Directors

🚨 Hiring news! 🚨 I’m looking to hire five really important new roles. Each will lead a major new innovation programme to tackle one of five major national challenges.

Professor Sir Ian Chapman to join UKRI as new Chief Executive Officer Science Minister Lord Vallance has announced that Professor Sir Ian Chapman will join UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

"UKRI should be central to the future of the people in this country and beyond. I am excited to be joining an excellent team focused on improving the lives and livelihoods of UK citizens."

www.ukri.org/news/profess... #AcademicSky

Professor Sir Ian Chapman appointed next CEO of UK Research and Innovation with renewed focus on economic growth Sir Ian will lead the team at UKRI in backing thousands of researchers and innovators in developing solutions which improve people’s lives and help grow the economy

www.gov.uk/government/n...

Great start to half term with some mind-expanding research from @ukri.org #ahrc at the ever wonderful @ashmoleanmuseum.bsky.social

This morning, we've published an interview with the outgoing UKRI CEO Ottoline Leyser who warned "budgets are very tight and I think they will continue to be through the next spending review", and that the research community has to focus on its responsibility to rebuild the economy

UK must turbocharge its innovation policy to harness engineering biology, say peers - Committees - UK Parliament The Science and Technology Committee urges urgent policy actions across Government to maximise the contribution of engineering biology to the UK economy and public services.

The House of Lords Science & Tech Committee report on engineering biology is out committees.parliament.uk/committee/19...

I would LOVE to hire someone awesome to lead UKRI’s work on data and how we use it to understand the R&D system.

Great opportunity for someone with strong data skills who cares about technology, research and progress!

t.co/pItvynXWfn

Sheepfarming after Chernobyl: A Case Study in Communicating Scientific Information Published in Environment: Science and Policy for Sustainable Development (Vol. 31, No. 2, 1989)

Now that @altmetric.com is tracking @bsky.app posts (yay!) let's share our favourite #Scicomm papers.

I'll go first. This one from Brian Wynne (where he spoke to Cumbrian sheep farmers about the fallout of Chernobyl) taught me what can be achieved if we truly listen.

🔗 doi.org/10.1080/0013...

🧪

Hello 👋 We're the British Science Association!

Formed in 1831, we're a charity working hard to bring people and science together in ways that will have a lasting, positive impact on communities, research, and society.

We're just finding our feet here on bsky and will start posting soon...

This is not a drill!

The best job in science policy is up for grabs again - go and work as a Committee Specialist in the House of Commons.

Deadline 1 Dec. Check out the a/l and pension, not just the salary
housesofparliament.tal.net/vx/mobile-0/...

This may be useful to some of my followers…

YouTube video by UKRI Stories How carbon capture works: Emissions Impossible #6

We made some content about carbon capture and storage, and why we fund it a few years back (just mentioning in case it's relevant today):

Podcast: www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOC2...

Executive Director, Solutions Salary: £400,000 per annum Contract: Permanent Closing date: Sunday 22nd September Founded in 1936, Wellcome is a politically and financially independent global charitable foundation, dedicated to sup...

Serious job. A new senior role at Wellcome to support transformative research investments, public engagement, and policy influence in their thematic priorities: Climate and Health, Infectious Diseases, and Mental Health. £400k wellcome.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Wellco...

@dorassessment.bsky.social is looking for a new Program Manager. This is a huge and important opportunity to propel DORA to new heights alongside its refreshed leadership team: www.ascb.org/program-mana... The net is being cast far and wide to please share across your networks!

Supporting statements for the 2 candidates for Science & Tech Cttee Chair are now available online.

Both Dawn Butler and Chi Onwurah using their statements to highlight their STEM backgrounds (as a computer programmer and a chartered engineer, respectively) committees.parliament.uk/committee/135/…

A bar chart showing ministerial experience of an unnamed individual: elected in 2001, Minister of State at DfE from 2010-2012, 2014-2021 and 2022-2023.

The first in an occasional series of Guess the Minister...

An easy one to warm up with.

More fun at: www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/ministers-da...

My thoughts on #arts and #humanities #research, why it should be controversial, why we have to defend it

www.researchprofessional.com/0/rr/news/uk...

UK Public Policy Lead The Ada Lovelace Institute is hiring a UK Public Policy Lead.

Job Claxon 📢📢 24 hours left to apply for a cracker of a role at the Ada Lovelace Institute: UK policy lead! #AI #Ethics #Regulation and #policy, oh my! www.adalovelaceinstitute.org/job/uk-publi...

and full Gov press release here on the recruitment... www.gov.uk/government/n...

Expressions of interest | Institute for Government We are inviting expressions of interest from anyone with recent experience working in UK government/politics who would like to join us at the IfG.

Are you interested in joining our brilliant research and learning team at ⁦‪@instituteforgov‬⁩? We’re looking for people who have been working in and around government to bring their experience and expertise to our work, details 👇 www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/about-us/car...

Starter pack for professional folk working in and around research who don't call themselves researchers or academics.

go.bsky.app/KAw6Gka

Funders/Managers/Admin/Journos/Adjacent/Enablers

Second one in development to help connect this community. Let me know who else to add. Thanks.